Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI (2024)

As of 30 September 2026. Information only, not legal advice – see the disclaimer.

The Framework Convention requires Parties to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of AI systems are consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It sets general principles (such as human dignity, transparency and oversight, accountability, equality and non-discrimination, privacy, reliability and safe innovation), requires remedies and procedural safeguards, and provides for risk and impact management. Parties choose how to apply it to activities of private actors. Matters relating to national defence are excluded from its scope. It is referred to in debates on the protection of democratic processes against AI-enabled manipulation.

• Art. 3 – Scope: public authorities and private actors acting on their behalf; Parties address risks from private actors in a manner of their choosing, by declaration. Art. 3(2)–(4) exclude activities related to the protection of national security interests (subject to conditions), research and development not yet made available, and national defence.
• Art. 5 – Parties shall adopt or maintain measures to ensure that AI systems are not used to undermine the integrity, independence and effectiveness of democratic institutions and processes, including individuals' fair access to and participation in public debate and their ability to freely form opinions.
• Art. 8 – Transparency and oversight, including identification of content generated by AI systems.
• Arts. 14–15 – Remedies and procedural safeguards, including notice that one is interacting with an AI system.
• Art. 16 – Risk and impact management framework.
• Art. 30 – Signature and entry into force.

No documented application yet; the Convention is not in force.

• 2024-09-05: Opened for signature; first signatories included Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, United Kingdom, Israel, United States and the European Union.
• 2026-05-15: The European Union deposits its instrument during the 135th Session of the Committee of Ministers in Chișinău (Council of Europe).
• As of the date above, the Council of Europe's Framework Convention page lists signatures by 15 member States (Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom), by Canada, Israel, Japan, the United States and Uruguay, and by the European Union.

• ai_act
• budapest
• iccpr
• global_digital_compact
• laws

• CETS No. 225 – text (Council of Europe), accessed 2026-09-27
• Council of Europe: The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, accessed 2026-09-30
• Council of Europe: European Union ratifies the Framework Convention, accessed 2026-09-27
• Council of Europe Treaty Office: chart of signatures and ratifications, CETS 225, accessed 2026-09-27

• 2026-09-27: Entry created (draft).
• 2026-09-30: Entry reviewed and finalised.